The Vijayanagara Kings ruled in the name of which of the following Gods ?

The kings of the Vijayanagara Empire claimed to rule as representatives of the deity Virupaksha, a form of Lord Shiva. This practice established divine legitimacy for their authority. Most royal edicts, copper plate grants, and inscriptions issued by the Vijayanagara monarchs were signed with the name "Sri Virupaksha", usually written in the Kannada script.

The Virupaksha Temple at Hampi served as the spiritual heart of the empire. While the rulers were known for their religious tolerance and later dynasties (like the Tuluvas) showed a strong personal inclination toward Vaishnavism (worshipping deities like Venkateshwara and Vitthala), the formal tradition of ruling in the name of Virupaksha remained the consistent state practice throughout the empire's history.